Grand North Adventure

This is a relatively long trip for travelers to visit North Vietnam. However, if there is more time then it is better, we will have more time to visit and relax. The program takes you from the capital of Hanoi to the remote mountains of the Northeast and then to the Northwest. Along the way travelers have chance to contemplate the majestic beauty of nature, the friendliness of the people in the highlands, the great achievements they created: terraced fields and irrigation system. Then you will go down to the Red River Delta to visit the beautiful landscape, diversified culture and closing off the trip with the visit of Halong Bay, one of the 7 Wonders of the World.

This is a relatively long trip for travelers to visit North Vietnam. However, if there is more time then it is better, we will have more time to visit and relax. The program takes you from the capital of Hanoi to the remote mountains of the Northeast and then to the Northwest. Along the way travelers have chance to contemplate the majestic beauty of nature, the friendliness of the people in the highlands, the great achievements they created: terraced fields and irrigation system. Then you will go down to the Red River Delta to visit the beautiful landscape, diversified culture and closing off the trip with the visit of Halong Bay, one of the 7 Wonders of the World.

Day 1: Arrival in HanoiArrive in Hanoi. Greeted by your guide at the airport. Transfer to your hotel in the city centre and at leisure in the rest of the day. Late afternoon, take a Cyclo Tour in the Old Quarter and enjoy Water puppet show.Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi cityYou are free today to relax or self explore the city. Highlights are Tran Quoc pagoda, the oldest one in Hanoi, located on a semi island in West lake. Then heading to Ho Chi Minh mausoleum complex, visit his stilt house and museum telling you about his life and revolutionary cause. The next stop is One Pillar pagoda, located right within the mausoleum complex area, one of the most iconic pagoda in Vietnam. The morning tour ends with a visit to the Literature Temple, the first university of Vietnam, built in 1070 at the time of King Ly Thanh Tong. This ancient site offers a lake of literature, the Well of Heavenly Clarity, turtle steles, pavilions, courtyards and passageways that were once used by royalty.In the afternoon visit Vietnam museum of ethnology where introduce lifestyles and cultures of 54 Vietnamese ethnic groups. Beside the indoor exhibition, the museum also has out-door area displaying number of houses modeling after the traditional architecture of ethnic minorities which makes the museum stand out from others. Optionally, we visit Hoa Lo prison, built by French colonist to keep Vietnamese political prisoners and later for American pilots.Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi – Lang SonYour guide will greet you at your hotel and start the trip heading to Bac Son, Lang Son province. Lunch will be prepared upon arrival and served by a local family with whom you spend the night. Afternoon, make a short tour around the village to see how people work on their fields and do other daily activities. After that, climb up the Na Lay peak, the highest peak in the area to contemplate the wonderful panoramic view over the valley. From above, the valley looks like a beautiful picture of green paradise with winding river runs crossing the rice fields surrounded by high peak mountains. Have dinner and stay overnight at home stay in Bac Son.

Day 4: Bac Son - Cao BangAfter breakfast depart for Cao Bang. You will arrive at Pac Rang village that famous for blacksmith products, take a short trip around to meet people in the village then have dinner and stay overnight with a local family (home stay).

Day 5: Cao Bang - Ban Gioc - Ba BeHighlight of the day is the visit to Ban Gioc waterfall, the largest waterfall in Asia and the fourth largest waterfall along a national border in the world (it’s considered the natural borderline between Vietnam and China). Surrounded by limestone mountain peaks, its water rushes down a three-tiered cliff from a height of more than 70 meters and is divided into three falls by rocks and trees. About 4km from the waterfall is Nguom Ngao cave, one of the most spectacular caves in the North Vietnam with beautiful stalactites of various shapes. We will certainly include this amazing cave in our trip today plus a short visit to the stone craft village of Khuoi Ky where most of the houses made of stone. Depart for Ba Be National Park after finishing all the sights. Stay overnight at home-stay with Tay minority in Pac Ngoi village.

Day 6: Ba Be - Dong VanAfter breakfast, we say goodbye to the host and have a boat trip on the emerald Ba Be lake surrounded by limestone mountains and lush vegetation. Keep cruising to reach the scenic and mysterious Puong cave where inhabited by thousands of bats. Then get off the boat and depart for Meo Vac, a beautiful valley with picturesque terraced rice fields and peaceful villages nestled at the foot of the hills. Enjoy amazing landscape while winding on mountain passes through beautiful lush valleys. Stop sometimes for photo hunting or short visits to local villages, and join local market if this day falls on Sunday. Keep driving for Dong Van via Ma Pi Leng Pass, perhaps this is the most astonishing stretch of road in entire country that offers superb view over the Nho Que river valley below with hundreds of limestone mountains towering around. Upon arrival at Dong Van, if it is early you can have a short trek to Don Cao, a top mountain bunker built by French military in the wartime to control the area. Later you are free to spend time to visit the small town and to socialize with local people and go for dinner. Stay overnight at hotel in Dong Van.

Day 7: Dong Van - Ha GiangDepart for Lung Cu Flag Pole, the Northernmost point of Vietnam then visit Vuong Chi Sinh's house, the former palace of H’Mong King, made of stone and timber and was built by French colonial to please the King. Spend time with the local H’Mong people in Lung Tam village, see how they do weaving and other activities in their daily life (optionally, visit Lung Khuy cave, the beautiful, newly discovered cave). After that, leave for Ha Giang, contemplate the beauty of rock fields on the way. Have dinner and stay overnight at homestay accommodation in Ha Giang.

Day 8: Ha Giang - Bac HaLeave Ha Giang for Bac Ha, contemplate the beautiful landscape on the way with winding mountain roads, lush valley, terraced rice fields, tea-lands and local ethnic people working on their farms in colorful traditional costumes. Upon arrival, we will check-in a small hotel and start trekking around the area. We visit Hoang A Tuong Palace, built between the years of 1914 – 1921, the most powerful house in Bac Ha before 1945. Then visit Ban Pho village where is famous for corn wine distillery. Stay overnight at homestay in Bac Ha.

Day 9: Bac Ha - Tam DuongIf it is Sunday morning, we will go to Bac Ha market. The largest and most beautiful market in the Northern Mountains. Then we will go through Sapa, a summer resort built by the French hundreds of years ago. Going through numerous slopes with breathtaking scenery, we are going to Tam Duong, a small town in Lai Chau. We will spend the night at homestay with local people in a village near the town.

Day 10: Tam Duong - Nghia LoAfter breakfast in this small town we will continue our journey to explore the mountains and forests of the north. We will go through beautiful terraced rice fields, wonders created by human hands over thousands of years. Continue to pass the rugged passes, the villages of our people to Nghia Lo, a small town located in the Muong Lo field, the second largest field in the northern mountains.We will explore this small town and stay at a hotel here.

Day 11: Nghia Lo - Cuc PhuongToday we will have a long trip from the mountains to a province in the Northern Delta.Our destination is Cuc Phuong National Park, the first park in Vietnam and also considered the national park with the most diversified organisms in Vietnam.We will enjoy the fresh air and spend the night at the garden guest house.

Day 12: Cuc Phuong - Tam CocIn the morning we will wake up early to enjoy the peaceful morning in the forest, we will visit the primate rescue area where we care for the last rare primate on earth.Then we will go to Tam Coc for lunch and boat to visit the beautiful underground tunnels in a peaceful scenery that was chosen to film the famous movie Kong Skull Island, then we will visit Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam 1000 years ago.Overnight at hotel in Tam Coc.

Day 13: Tam Coc – Halong BayWe leave for Halong Bay after breakfast, passing verdant farmland and witness the daily life of the local peasant farmers. Arrive in Halong at noon, board your boat and enjoy lunch including fresh seafood as you embark on a 4 hours cruise into the Bay of the Descending Dragon. You’ll stop to explore one of the many expansive grottoes here then continue cruising to a quiet firth. There will be lots of time for swimming and sun bathing. Cruise to a quiet firth and enjoy a great sunset dinner, relax under the starlit sky before retiring to the comfort of your cabin. Overnight on the boat.

Day 14: Halong Bay – HanoiEnjoy sunrise in the Bay. Have breakfast and continue your cruise around the bay, passing Cua Van floating village to witness this unique way of life. Check-out your room, have lunch. Transferred back to Hanoi.Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

Day 15: Hanoi departureYou are free until our driver pick up you and transfer to Hanoi airport for your next destination. Tour ends.